LUMUT, (Bernama) -- The government has issued a letter of intent to Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd for the building of six second generation petrol vessels under a programme starting in 2012, Chief of Navy Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said today.

The additional vessels will ease the asset restraint that the Royal Malaysian Navy have had to endure since surrendering 17 of its ships to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, he said when launching KD Selangor, the sixth RMN petrol vessel, at the base here.

KD Selangor is the last ship ordered under a programme which started in 1999. The other vessels are KD Kedah and KD Pahang, based in Kota Kinabalu, and KD Perak and KD Terengganu, in Kuantan.

Reports and photographs from China indicate that country will soon test fly a large stealthy combat aircraft prototype from the Chengdu facility in the country’s north.

Grainy images of the aircraft, variously dubbed J-XX or J-20, show a long and wide fuselage with low observable engine intakes and a forward chine, a high set delta shaped main wing, forward canards, a bubble canopy, conventional round engine exhausts, and canted all-moving fins.

The aircraft appears to have been undergoing high speed taxi tests at Chengdu as late as December 22. It appears larger than the US’s F-22 Raptor, and similar in size to Russia’s T-50 PAK-FA prototype which flew in late 2009.

29 Desember 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The Navy plans to acquire seven vessels next year to improve its operations and upgrade its capabilities.

Navy spokesman Capt. Giovanni Bacordo told The STAR that they want to buy three offshore patrol vessels, three multipurpose attack craft and a landing craft utility in 2011.

“We seek to upgrade the capabilities of the Navy. The acquisition will help us perform our duties,” Bacordo said.

He said the attack craft, which will be used to insert troops during combat operations, would cost P89 million each.

On the other hand, the P178-million landing craft utility would be used to transport troops and logistics.

Bacordo said the patrol vessels would be used to conduct patrols at the Malampaya natural gas offshore facility in Palawan.

Information about the cost of the patrol vessels is not yet available.

Bacordo said the Navy has three multipurpose attack vessels in its inventory.

Two are deployed in Western Mindanao while another is stationed in Palawan.

He said they also have three landing craft utility but no offshore patrol vessels.

Bacordo said the purchase of a multi-role vessel is still in the pipeline but this would depend on the availability of funds.

He said they could not rely solely on the Navy’s annual budget for funds to cover the purchases since 70 percent of it goes to salaries while the rest is used to fund maintenance and operating expenses.

The purchase of the multi-role vessel, which costs about P5 billion, has been planned since 2007. Its acquisition, however, was stalled due to lack of financial resources.

A multi-role vessel is capable of delivering basic services to far-flung areas and can be used for disaster and humanitarian missions.

Earlier, the military announced plans to lease its properties to private firms to generate funds for its modernization program.

Officials said such a scheme would allow the military to procure equipment without bloating the deficit, which is expected to hit P325 billion this year.

Authorities are still determining how much would be generated from the project.

Last November, acting Navy chief Rear Adm. Danilo Cortez told The STAR that at least six firms have expressed interest in the project.

One of the six firms – Malaysian Resources Corp. Berhad – has submitted a proposal that would involve the lease of a 33-hectare Navy property in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.

The Armed Forces Modernization Act, which took effect on Feb. 23, 1995, has given the military the opportunity to modernize in 15 years with a total fund of P331 billion.

More than 15 years have passed since the law was enacted but there are views that the military is not even close to what may be called a modern battle force. The delay in the law’s implementation has been attributed to the lack of state resources.

Singapore - ST Engineering today announced that its aerospace arm, ST Aerospace, has signed on its first commercial customer, Guggenheim Aviation Partners, LLC (GAP), to perform a passenger-to-passenger/cargo (combi) (PTC) conversion on a Boeing 757-200 aircraft for TNT Airways S.A. The aircraft is expected to be inducted into ST Aerospace's Singapore facility by end February 2011, and the converted aircraft is targeted for redelivery by end 2011.

This PTC conversion is ST Aerospace's first 757-200 combi conversion for a commercial customer. It has previously successfully designed and converted two Royal New Zealand Air Force's passenger aircraft into multi-role combi configuration. These two combi aircraft are currently in operational service.

Separately, ST Aerospace will also be working in tandem with the aerospace division of ST Engineering's US subsidiary, VT Systems, to undertake a PTC conversion programme, also for the Boeing 757-200 aircraft, for North American Airlines (NAA), a subsidiary of Global Aviation Holdings Inc. VT Systems' aerospace division and NAA entered into an agreement for the PTC conversion earlier this month.

VT Systems' aerospace division's maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Mobile and San Antonio are managed by ST Aerospace as part of its global network of MRO facilities.

ST Aerospace will offer both GAP and NAA a complete solution - from engineering design to implementing the conversion of the passenger-carrying aircraft into a combi configuration at its MRO facilities.As part of the agreements, ST Aerospace will obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for the PTC conversion. These STCs will be based on ST Aerospace's existing FAA-approved STC for the 757-200 Special Freighter passenger-to-freighter (PTF) conversion, which is to date the only STC developed based on Boeing's licensed passenger and freighter data.These PTC programmes attest to ST Aerospace's strong engineering and design capability that complement its MRO expertise. ST Aerospace is a PTF Centre of Excellence and has performed numerous PTF conversions for the Boeing 727, 757-200, 767-300, DC10, MD10 and MD11 aircraft for almost two decades. Specifically for 757-200 PTF conversions, ST Aerospace has redelivered 50 converted aircraft to date, with a backlog of 56 aircraft.

These agreements are not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year.

26 Desember 2010

Paris – Russia has selected France's controversial offer of two Mistral command and projection warships, with an option for two more units, for an undisclosed amount, a French official statement said Dec. 24.

"The president of the Russian Federation Dimitri Medvedev has today informed the president of the French Republic Nicolas Sarkozy that following the international tender launched Oct. 5 for the supply to the Russian Navy of two command and projection ships, the Russian authorities have selected the offer presented by the consortium formed by French companies DCNS and STX and the OSK Russian shipyard," the French president's office said in a statement.

The sale of the 21,300 ton Mistral class of helicopter amphibious assault ship, worth around 500 million euros ($6.6 million) per unit, marks the first major sale of military equipment by a NATO country to Moscow. The prospect of a sale of the advanced design warship has raised deep concern with the U.S. administration and the Baltic states, following the 2008 war between Georgia and Russia.

French officials have deployed various arguments to justify a sale, including emphasizing the civil standards to which the ship was built and that it would be inconsistent to call Moscow a partner of the West and then refuse to sell the warship.

"President Medvedev and President Sarkozy welcome the realization of this unprecedented cooperation, which will benefit industry and employment in our two countries, and which illustrates the determination and capacity of France and Russia to develop large scale partnerships in all domains, including in defense and security."

The deal represented the equivalent of five million hours of work or employment for 1,000 workers for four years for the French companies DCNS and STX, with most the work at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, northern France.

Mistral class LHD (photo : haborumuveszete)

"DCNS is delighted the Russian authorities have chosen the Mistral," a company spokesman said.

U.S. defense secretary Robert Gates, when asked in February about the French offer of the Mistral to Moscow, said: "Yes, we did discuss it. We had a good and thorough exchange of views. I will leave it at that."

It was not clear where the ships will be built as the industrial details have not been finalized.

"The consortium's offer initially envisages the common construction of two ships of this type, which should be extended by the building of two more units," the statement said.

The Mistral is designed around modular blocks so it is possible large blocks could be prepared in France and sent for assembly in Russia.

The first of class Mistral and sister ship Tonnerre were assembled at Saint Nazaire after blocks were built at Brest and Saint Nazaire, with a Polish yard at Gdansk subcontracted to build some of the blocks.

French officials feared that if Paris refused to sell the ships, Russia would buy rival products from Spain or the Netherlands.

Russia has insisted on a transfer of technology and construction of some of the ships, while the French government wanted the first two ships to be built at Saint Nazaire, and the second two assembled in Russia.

France owns a stake in STX France, which is a subsidiary of the Korean STX group. Defense electronics company Thales holds a 25 percent stake in DCNS, with an option to raise this to 35 percent.

The Mistral is a highly automated warship, with a crew of 160. The 199-meter long ship is designed to embark a headquarters command staff, equipped with a hospital, can carry 16 helicopters, landing ships and accommodate around 450 troops.

The French government last year ordered a third Mistral vessel to be built under a 2.3 billion euro defense stimulus package.

"The post qualification is now finished. It's already okay. The result was positive," he added.

The US company offered a 26-year-old Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, originally used by the Tunisian Air Force, for US $34 million.

Tunisia sold the aircraft to Derco in 2007 after the plane figured in the said accident.

Batac said a post-qualification team inspected the facilities of Derco in Wisconsin, including its repair facility in Malaysia where the C-130 plane offered is undergoing refurbishing.

"As reported by the post-qualification team, the package offered by Derco to the Philippine Air Force is over and above the required specifications for the project...The notice of award will be out shortly," said Batac.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, meanwhile, sought to downplay reports that the deal with Derco was disadvantageous to the government.

He said these perceptions were product of "incomplete information."

"In line with the government's policy of transparency and accountability, let us open our lines of communication so that a proper appreciation of what we do here in the Defense Department can be made, thereby preventing any misunderstanding that might ensue, owing to certain misperceptions formed by way of incomplete information," Gazmin said.

Batac explained that the acquisition project was first approved by the Air Force Weapons and Systems Board on the recommendation of the Air Force Technical Working Group.

"The proposed project was evaluated and endorsed for approval by the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines] Weapons Board to the AFP chief of staff and, subsequently, the secretary of National Defense," he added.

Most nations have marines—amphibious assault forces that act as first responders when governments project power. Theater commanders will say the benefits of a mobile force of marines, operating with naval support and dedicated air and ground assets, cannot be overstated, especially in an era of asymmetric warfare and littoral operations. So effective is this model of rapid light infantry that even landlocked Paraguay has a battalion of marines.

The number, capabilities and support of marine forces varies. Most nations, ironically, lack the ships and logistics necessary to optimize such forces. This may be changing. Although industrial militaries in the West periodically examine the structure and value of marine forces (see related story on p. 30), many developing countries are expanding their units. The reasons involve regional influence, coastal security, protection of trade and suppression of criminal activity, notably piracy. Moreover, with more countries participating in security and peacekeeping coalitions, fielding and maintaining an effective amphibious force is vital to a successful deployment.

Amphibious forces are among the most complex and expensive in a navy. They need dedicated naval assault forces to project and sustain power, well-trained and motivated personnel, specific and costly equipment, and must hone their skills with constant training. As a result, only a few nations can afford true amphibious forces. Nevertheless, countries in many regions are looking to increase the size and capabilities of their marine forces.

Some NATO members such as the U.K., Italy, Spain and the Netherlands have marine units. Others assign marine activities throughout their forces. France, while having an amphibious naval capability, does not have a true marine force, even though the army fields three regiments called marines and there is a special forces component of the navy. Germany also has no marine force, primarily because an amphibious force projects power, which Germany is reluctant to do.

NATO, which has a doctrine for amphibious operations, has studied and wargamed amphibious raids and larger operations to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and elsewhere, but a lack of political will keeps such plans off the table. The only recent amphibious operations among NATO members were landings by Italy and France for the initial deployment of their Unifil (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) troops, disaster relief operations and non-combatant evacuations.

Royal Thai Marines (photo : wiki)

Still, NATO can rely on joint Spanish-Italian and U.K.-Dutch amphibious forces. The U.K. has a Royal Marines force at brigade level and a strong amphibious naval force. The Dutch maintain a brigade of 3,000 marines and two modern LPD (landing platform dock) amphibious craft. One Dutch battalion is integrated with the U.K.’s 3 Commando Brigade to form the U.K./Netherlands Amphibious Land Force.

Spain fields a brigade of 6,200 marines and relevant amphibious naval forces, while Italy has created a peculiar joint amphibious brigade, combining naval infantry units and a regiment of army riverine and delta troops converted to amphibious assault duties.

Elsewhere in the region, Portugal relies on two marine battalions with 2,000 troops, but has limited naval transport. Greece has a marine infantry brigade that is part of the army, which the navy supports with limited amphibious forces. Turkey is increasing its amphibious naval component; Romania has a marine battalion but lacks transport vessels; and Russia is rebuilding its naval amphibious force. Moscow believes that the quickest approach entails acquiring LPDs from the West to support elite naval infantry forces, which include 8,000 in one division, two brigades and some regiments. The Russian navy has been negotiating with France to buy Mistral amphibious craft, but recently announced an open tender for the ships.

Large amphibious forces are common in the Pacific Rim. China has 7,000 marines and special forces in five regiments. This is likely to expand as the navy builds more amphibious assault vehicles and strengthens its blue water fleet. Taiwan has a bigger marine force, with two active divisions and one in reserve totaling 35,000 troops. They are primarily for defensive operations—e.g., repelling an invasion by China.

If China attempts to invade Taiwan, and its missile, naval and air attacks and blockades do not force surrender, amphibious assault operations would take place. China, however, is also looking at naval power projection to defend territorial claims and economic exclusion zones in the Western Pacific.

India has a marine force of only 1,000, which is surprising since experts believe the country will eventually vie with China for influence in the region. The country also has a large coastline to patrol, is committed to keeping shipping lanes open and faces ongoing insurgencies in parts of the country. India’s naval amphibious component is adequate, and being reinforced.

Philippine Marines (photo : allvoices)

South Korea fields a large and capable naval infantry that mirrors the U.S. Marine Corps, with 25,000 men in two divisions and a brigade supported by a growing and modern navy amphibious component including two LHDs (landing helicopter docks). Marines in South Korea would play a defensive role or launch a naval attack in a conflict with Pyongyang.

Geography—including a large coastline—and decades of war drove Vietnam to build a powerful marine force of 25,000, even though the navy lacks the means to project their power and support them. Vietnamese marines are mostly for coastal defense and riverine and delta operations.

Geography also led Indonesia to build up naval infantry, given its need to protect the hundreds of islands in the country. The marine force of 15,000 in two brigades will increase to 22,000 with the planned addition of two brigades. The navy has a patchwork of amphibious vessels, with four LPDs in service or under construction, 18 LSTs (landing ship, tank) and 14 LCUs (landing craft utility).

The Philippines, with many islands to protect, has more than 8,000 marines, but minimal naval transport and assault capabilities. The troops are for counter-insurgency missions.

Japan’s navy is building an amphibious force, which will include LPDs and LHDs and a helicopter air wing. Given the sensitivity of Asian countries to a real or perceived Japanese offensive capability, establishing a dedicated naval amphibious assault infantry is not an immediate move for Tokyo. Naval forces will instead transport and support army units.

Australia has an integrated military force and, while lacking a large marine infantry, is increasing its naval transportation and power projection capability, including amphibious assault assets.

Vietnamese marines (photo : halongvip)

Most of Africa has no significant amphibious forces. Some countries on the Mediterranean have such capabilities, notably Morocco, which has a naval infantry force of 2,000 but only one LST. Algeria plans to develop an amphibious capability, but has no marines. The navy is to acquire at least one LPD, and is increasing rotary wing assets.

Saudi Arabia has the most powerful marine force in the Middle East—3,000 naval infantry who rely on LCUs for coastal operations. The growing Iraqi forces include a marine battalion for coastal and riverine operations, mainly defense on the Shatt al-Arab waterway, whose southern end borders Iran. (Iran has no amphibious assault capabilities to speak of.)

Almost all South American countries with a coast have marine forces, even if they are not matched by naval amphibious capabilities. Brazil’s marine force is 15,000 strong. The navy has several amphibious assault vessels and wants more. Chile has four regiments with more than 2,700 marines, but no naval amphibious force. Venezuela has 10,000 naval infantry, which also operate in riverine roles. The force comprises five brigades, with two more being equipped. Its four LSTs, however, are not sufficient.

Peru has a naval infantry force of 3,500 and is expanding its naval amphibious arm by acquiring decommissioned U.S. vessels. Argentina’s 2,000 marines are among the country’s best troops, though the navy has few airborne and assault capabilities. Colombia has a powerful naval infantry, with four brigades and 22,000 troops, but its main role is guerrilla warfare. Ecuador has three marine battalions, with 1,500 men, and small amphibious vessels. Bolivia has a naval infantry force of 1,000, but no amphibious capabilities.

Mexico plans to increase its naval infantry force to 16,000 from 10,000, but has a small amphibious force. Honduras has a battalion of marines but only one LCU. Guatemala has a marine battalion, two LCUs and one mechanized landing craft. Cuba’s naval infantry, despite a large coastline, is only 500.

22 Desember 2010

Defence and security company Saab has received an order for the GIRAFFE AMB multi-mission radar system and related services from the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). The order amounts to 550 MSEK.

“We are very proud that the Giraffe AMB has been selected to enhance the force protection capabilities of the Australian Defence Force. This further underscores Saab’s strength as a radar supplier and the capability of our Giraffe system”, says Micael Johansson, Senior Vice President and Head of Saab’s business area Electronic Defence Systems.

Development and manufacturing will be undertaken by Saab in Gothenburg, Sweden. Contract deliveries will begin in mid 2012.

The Giraffe AMB system is a modular and flexible multi-mission radar that is capable of simultaneous air defence, air and sea surveillance, air/land integration and military air traffic management as well as weapon location.

The Giraffe AMB is part of Saab’s continuously evolving radar program and provides unmatched performance for critical targets and proven reliability. Whether as a part of vital point protection or area air defence solutions, the Giraffe AMB has become the radar of choice for armed forces worldwide, including those of Sweden, France, Estonia and the UK amongst others.

Airbus Military has failed to deliver a KC-30A MRTT to the RAAF by the end of 2010, despite the company saying as late as last month that it still planned to meet that schedule.

The latest schedule slip, now taking total KC-30 program delays to over two years beyond the original late 2008 first delivery schedule, is not believed to be of a technical nature, but is due to ongoing delays in writing the comprehensive technical documentation for the aircraft’s all-new boom and its remote operating station, which currently does not satisfy the RAAF’s stringent airworthiness standards. The RAAF’s airworthiness requirements are recognised worldwide for their high standards, and without having the appropriate technical documentation upon which to establish an acceptable baseline, the RAAF is unable to verify the airworthiness of the boom and therefore clear it for operational use. These ongoing delays have contributed to the project being placed on the Defence Minister’s Projects of Concern list earlier this year, a position new Minister Stephen Smith reiterated in November.

“The delivery of a first and new aircraft with a lot of new systems to a new customer/roperator is always very complex and time consuming,” an Airbus spokesman said in response to queries from Australian Aviation. “It involves not only a purely technical acceptance, but also a huge amount of paperwork regarding contractual documentation, as well as ensuring all the support activities and related documents are taken through the acceptance process. The qualification process, which includes crew training, is also very lengthy. The amount of work to be performed during the acceptance process prior to the final hand-over is therefore huge. So, rather than rush the process prior to the Australian Christmas break and summer holiday period, it has been agreed to take the time needed to complete the procedures in a proper manner. This will lead to a final hand over and formal acceptance moving into the New Year.”

It is believed the RAAF was prepared to accept delivery of the first two KC-30As in an interim configuration without the boom being certified, as it has a more immediate requirement for the aircraft’s airlift and pod hose and drogue refuelling capabilities. But sources claim Airbus has remained focussed on delivering the full capability, perhaps due to parent company EADS’s push for the lucrative 179 aircraft USAF KC-X contract which is due to be decided in early 2011, for which it would obviously like to be able to demonstrate a fully operational boom. In the interim, the ADF has been forced to continue chartering air refuelling services from the USAF and Omega Air to assist with Super Hornet delivery flights, F/A-18A/B deployments to Malaysia, and major exercises such as November’s High Sierra.

There are hopes a final resolution to the delivery schedule can be determined by February and deliveries can commence soon after, and that an Airbus crewed KC-30 will be on display at March’s Australian International Airshow at Avalon.

Nonetheless, despite the new delays, Airbus Military has declared 2010 an “outstanding year” for its A330 MRTT program, and says it plans to deliver aircraft to three customers, including Australia, in 2011. It says it has conducted a number of successful test flights in recent weeks with an MRTT, culminating in a major exercise with the Portuguese air force in which 25 PAF F-16 pilots underwent air refuelling training and more than 70 wet and dry contacts were made with F-16s in various configurations.

Conversion of the second aircraft for Saudi Arabia has also commenced at Airbus’s Madrid facility, and delivery of the first aircraft is due in 2011. Further, the first A330 based Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) for the RAF successfully conducted a number of dry contacts with Spanish EF-18 fighters using its centreline hose and drogue Fuselage Refuelling Unit in early December, and is also moving towards first delivery to the RAF in 2011.

The navy is back to full fighting strength after a multi-million dollar upgrade to the Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana.

Te Mana, one of the navy's two frigates, finished sea trials last week after a seven-month refit when engineers put in new diesel engines, which significantly improved its performance and reduced fuel costs.

The ship also has a jet engine which is used for high speed running.

Earlier this year Te Mana's sister ship, HMNZS Te Kaha came out of a refit with the same engine upgrade.

The new engines cost about $57 million for both ships.

While the new engines are more economic, they will not allow the ships to go faster than their top speed of 27 knots.

The old engines could push each of the two frigates to 18 knots before a gas turbine kicked in for high-speed running. The new engines could go to nearly 22 knots before gas turbines took over, making the ships more economic to operate.

Te Mana's engines had reached the end of their economic life span of 24,000 hours.

The ship also had auxiliary generators replaced, its quarterdeck deck space reduced to give added buoyancy and provide space for a new gymnasium and a relocated laundry, a new communications and control system and a modernised Phalanx gun system.

The 20mm gun system was the last line of defence against anti-ship missiles and aircraft but could also be used against fast inshore attack craft.

The cost of the upgrade to the gun systems on both ships was about $25m.

Both ships were alongside at the Devonport naval base in Auckland as the navy prepared to wind down for the Christmas and New Year break.

Te Kaha is expected to be in commission until at least 2025 and Te Mana until 2028.

21 Desember 2010

The Government has yet to make a final decision on turning Ohakea Air Force Base into New Zealand's major defence force hub - but the air force today awarded a contract worth $30 million to Mainzeal Property and Construction Ltd.

The Palmerston North company will construct additional infrastructure at the base.

The Government has proposed creating the hub by moving the Linton army base to Ohakea, reducing the permanent personnel at Waiouru, and looking at other bases including Woodbourne and Trentham.

Wing Commander Peter Neilson said today the Mainzeal contract included the construction of 13 engineering workshops covering 11,000 square metres, which will be used by the Royal NZ Air Force "and possibly the NZ Army if plans to consolidate at Ohakea are realised in the future".

The building work was expected to be ready by June 2012.

"Its an exciting time for the NZDF and especially the Air Force at Ohakea," he said. "We are proud to be working with Mainzeal and the local community throughout the project."

Local communities have speculated that the creation of a big defence hub could mean personnel and equipment move into the area, bringing economic benefits to towns such as Sanson, Bulls and Feilding.

The proposed expansion of Ohakea stemmed from the Government's Defence White Paper, designed to review the nation's security needs for the next 25 years.

SHELTON, Conn. --- Sikorsky Helitech, a Sikorsky Aerospace Services company based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, today announced the merger of several support agreements that will provide deeper component and accessories maintenance for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Kiowa aircraft fleet.

The $7.5 million contract represents a consolidation of services that were previously administered as separate support agreements. Sikorsky Aerospace Services (SAS) is the aftermarket division of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp.

"For more than 10 years, Sikorsky Helitech has supported the Kiowa aircraft, and we are very pleased to be positioned as the pre-eminent supplier of deeper level maintenance for the ADF's platform. Leveraging our engineering and logistics capabilities, this contract provides the ADF unique and extensive resources that will deliver direct support and future options throughout the lifecycle of the Kiowa aircraft," said George Cheetham, director of Sikorsky Helitech.

"We are able to supply single source solutions for universal platforms beyond Sikorsky products. This expanded maintenance agreement solidifies our OEM expertise and capabilities and builds on SAS's status as a global service provider with local capabilities," said David Adler, president of Sikorsky Aerospace Services.

Sikorsky Helitech will offer component aftermarket support for the Kiowa fleet supplemental to maintenance and repair services handled on-base by military personnel. Maintenance of repairable items includes aircraft transmissions, blades, gear boxes and auxiliary power units.

Sikorsky Aerospace Services, a Sikorsky company, provides comprehensive support to rotary and fixed wing aircraft around the world. It offers its military and commercial customers a full portfolio of support services, including material distribution, maintenance, overhaul & repair, aircraft modifications and life-cycle support.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries.

Singapore, - ST Engineering today announced that the Group has won contracts totalling about S$110m in value. These include an Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) for the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS); supply of 40mm ammunition to the UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD); and ship upgrading and modification contracts from both naval and commercial customers.

ST Electronics was awarded a contract by The Krungthep Thanakom Company Limited (KT), a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Enterprise to supply an AFCS for the extension of the BTS Sukhumvit Line in Bangkok, Thailand. The AFCS for the Sukhumvit Line will be implemented from On Nut Station to Bearing Station (E10 to E14). The extension adds 5.25km to the route length of the existing BTS Sukhumvit Line and includes five new stations. The AFCS will be delivered by the second half of 2011 for commencement of revenue service.

ST Kinetics won a contract from the UK MoD for the supply of low velocity and high velocity 40mm ammunition that caters to the operation and training needs of the UK Army. Winning this competition has enabled continuation of supply to the UK MoD, a customer of ST Kinetics since 2002 and is a strong endorsement of the high standards and quality of ST Kinetics' 40mm products. Delivery will begin in the second quarter of 2011 and will be completed in the first quarter of 2012.

ST Marine scored its first contract with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to convert its 157.2m long combat logistics vessel, HMAS Success, to be double hulled to meet the International Maritime Organisation standards for environmental protection against oil spills. HMAS Success is designed to supply naval combat units with fuel, ammunition, food and stores whilst underway at sea. Capable of day and night Replenishment at Sea to ships alongside and concurrently by her embarked helicopter to other ships in company, HMAS Success weighs 18,000 tonnes when fully loaded. Commissioned in 1986, HMAS Success is the largest ship built in Australia for the RAN. Work is scheduled to commence before the end of this year when the tanker is deployed in the region and will be re-delivered by the first half of 2011.

The sector also secured two significant repair and conversion jobs from Saipem (Portugal) Comercio Maritimo (Saipem) and Coastline Group of Companies (Coastline) respectively. Saipem's 31,901 tonne (GRT) SEMAC 1, a semi submersible pipe lay vessel measuring 188.1m long, including truss, and 54.8m wide, will undergo upgrading and modification works including: stern winches upgrade, installation of new pipe tensioners, modification of Abandonment and Recovery winch, maintenance activities and Australisation of the vessel. As SEMAC 1 will be deployed in Australia, the vessel needs to undergo Australisation to meet local regulatory requirements. Some of the major Australisation work include: removing existing accommodation (98 cabins with galley and offices) to rebuild 168 new cabins with galley and offices, building a new helideck and an extra accommodation block. The project has commenced and is expected to be completed by July 2011.

Coastline's Caballo Maya, a 143.5m long and 22m wide offshore diving support construction vessel will be undergoing fabrication and installation of sponsons, crane foundation and modification of the stern section. The sponsons fabrication will widen the vessel and help improve its stability. The vessel will be upgraded to install an 850 ton Huisman heavy lift crane. Fabrication of the sponsons and stern blocks has commenced. The vessel is expected to join Coastline's fleet of deep sea offshore support vessels by the first quarter of 2011.

These contracts are not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year.